Iran condemns US ‘psychological warfare’

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has hit out at the United States over its reinstatement of economic sanctions.

He described the measures, which came into effect overnight, as “psychological warfare” which aimed to “sow division among Iranians”.

The sanctions take aim at various sectors, with further punitive action planned against Iran’s oil trade.

The European Union has spoken out against the measures, vowing to protect firms doing “legitimate business”.

It follows the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, earlier this year.

The deal, negotiated during the presidency of Barack Obama, saw Iran limit its controversial nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

Mr Trump says the deal is “one-sided” and he believes renewed economic pressure will force Iran to agree to a new deal and end its “malign” activities.

What are the sanctions?

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order which brought sanctions back into place at 00:01 EDT (04:01 GMT) on Tuesday. They target:

The purchase or acquisition of US banknotes by Iran’s government

Iran’s trade in gold and other precious metals

Graphite, aluminium, steel, coal, and software used in industrial processes

Transactions related to the Iranian rial currency

Activities relating to Iran’s issuance of sovereign debt

Iran’s automotive sector

A second phase is planned to come back into effect on 5 November which will have implications for Iran’s energy and shipping sectors, petroleum trading and transactions by foreign financial institutions with the Central Bank of Iran.

Why is the US implementing them?

The imposing of sanctions follows Mr Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 deal earlier this year.

Mr Trump had long spoken out against the agreement, labelling it “disastrous” and the “worst deal I’ve ever seen”.

Only the US has withdrawn, with other signatories remaining committed to the original agreement. But Iran’s currency has lost almost half of its value since, squeezing the economy.

Mr Trump says Iran faces a choice to “either change its threatening, destabilizing behaviour and reintegrate with the global economy, or continue down a path of economic isolation”.

“I remain open to reaching a more comprehensive deal that addresses the full range of the regime’s malign activities, including its ballistic missile program and its support for terrorism,” Mr Trump said on Monday.

What has the reaction been?

Mr Rouhani rebuked Mr Trump’s decision to reinstate sanctions, saying the US government had “turned their back on diplomacy” with the action.